Screw-forming machine



Nov. 13, 1928.

E. GAUTHIER SCREW FORMI NG MACHINE Filed Aug. 5, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 M a m F 6 a 5 Q 9 O 4 H W M /fi 4 Nov. 13, 1928.

E. GAUTHIER' SCREW FORMING MACHINE Filed Aug.'5, 1925 a Sheets-Sheet 2 5 /0 venfo/ 577657 GdMfh/e/ Nov. 13, 1928.

E. GAUTHIER SCREW FORMING MACHINE Filed Aug. 5, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 //7 V/7/0/ [/0357 duf/i// Patented Nov. 13, 1928 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST G AUTH'IEB, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIG'NOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COM- PAN Y, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N.Y., A CORPOBATIONOF'NEW YORK. 1

SCREW-FORMING MACHINE. V

Application filed August 5, 1925. Serial No. 48,226.

This invention relates to machines employed for the manufacture of screws and the like automatically, and'more especially to such machines involving the feature of manufacturingarticles from a coil or indefinite length-of wire.

The object ofthis invention-is the provision in a machine of the above construction of means which is comparatively simple, l0 easily maintamed and which may be operated at high speeds to accurately sever the completed article.

According to the preferred formof the invention as illustrated in the accompanying mechanism prior to its reaching a point where the desired operations are performed. As is the case with machines of this character several different kinds of tools are arranged to be rendered effective ,forperform ing certain characteristic operations on the wire or stock upon its being advanced to the working point. These tools may be operated either simultaneously or successively, depending upon the nature of the work being performed. Followingi or during the operation of. the several tools mechanism is operated for causing the-movement of a forming and a severing tool into engagement withthe wire orstockfor forming the end face of the screw and severing the com pleted article fromthe .stock. Specifically, this mechanism comprises a pair of circular cutters which are arranged on a rotary head to which motive power is imparted for causing their rotation bodily about the periphery of the stock and which are operatively connected tosleeves capable of being moved in a longitudinal direction to cause the forming and the severing tool to be moved inwardly into engagement with the stock. After the completed article has been severed mechanism is operated for advanc- V I in Fig, '6

ing the stock to presenta sufiicient length of stock to permit the formation of another article.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will more fullyappear from the fol.-

lowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and in Which- Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a machine embodying the features of this invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of a portion thereof;

F lg. 3 is an enlarged right hand end view of the head mountingtheforming and cutting ofl tools with .the'tools removed;

Figs. 4:, 5 and 6 are sections taken on :lines 14=,55 ,and 6- 6, respectively, of Fig. 3,,

and"

Fig. 7 is aplan view of the head as shown Referring now to the drawings in detail and particularly to Figs. =1 and 2 the numeral, 1O indicatesa portion ofthe frame of a machine adapted in the present embodiment for making screws. Brackets or journals are indicated .at'll and 12 which support in 'a'manner hereinafter described opposite lends respectively of ,a stationary hollow spindle13 through whichthe stock or wire 14 is moved. The Wire is drawn from a coil of wire mounted upon a reel 15' (Fig. 1) suitably mounted .below the spindle 13 at the left hand end thereof and near the floor and before its entrance'into the spindle 13 it passes through a straightening device indicated at 16. The wire is automatically advanced. against a stop 18 carried by an intermittently rotatable. turret 19 upon which are rotatably mounted suitable tools in turn successively brought into operation upon the wire, stock during the operation of the machine in a manner well known in this 7 The wire is advanced I and in turn chucked or gripped by the class of machines.

movement of sleeves 20 and 21 respectively (Fig. which are operated in propersequence by cam mechanism .(not shown in a manner well understood to thosefskilled iin the art. The sleeve 20 carries a set of friction fingers 22 (Fig. 4) adapted to grip the wire and advance it against the stop 18 and to slide rearwardly thereon after the wire has been gripped by a spring collet 23 (Fig. l) actuated by a movement to the right of a sleeve 24: through the operation of the sleeve 21. Rotatably mounted around the right hand end of the spindle 13 is a circular head 27 which carries forming and cutting off tools 28 and 29, respec tively, which will be referred to in greater detail hereinafter. Extending from the left hand side of the head 27 a sleeve 30 which is secured at its endto apulley 31 (Fig. 2) through the engagem nt of a plurality of teeth 32 formed upon a ring or cap 33 secured to the left hand end face of the pulley 31 by screws indicated at 34, the teeth 32 engaging in a plurality of notches 35 formed in the end face of the sleeve 30.

The pulley 31 is rotated a belt 36 driven from a suitable source of power (not shown). The sleeve 30 is of greater diameter than the spindle 13 and fitting within the space therebetween is a pair of sleeve like 'semicircular membe 38 and 39 upon which the sleeve 30 rotates; The members 38 and 39 revolve with the sleeve 30 and head 27 through their connection therewith which will be described hereinafter. In addition tothe rotary movement imparted tothe members 38 and 39 they are each adapted to be independently reciprocated upon the stationary spindle 13 during their rotation. The left hand end ofthe upper member (Fig. 2) is with a dove tail groove "l1 which extends around the semicircular periphery thereof and suitably secured from longitudinal movement therein is a ball bearing 42 the outer shell 4a of which is fixed from rotation by a depending linger L5 suitably supported upon'the stationary'spindle 13. the finger 45 extending into a slot e6 formed in the periphery of the shell 4 .The extreme left hand end of the lower m mber 39 (Fig. 2) is not semi-circular but completely encircles the spindle 13 as indicated at 47 and mounted thereon is a ball bearing 48 which is suitably secured from long1- tudinal movement thereon. The outer shell 49 of the ball bearing 48 is held from rotation in a manner similar to that described in connection with the ball bearing 42. Each of. the shells 44c and 49 is provided at oppo site points spaced 90 from the slots 46 with slots 50 and 51 into which extend pins 52 and 53, respectively,.carried upon the bl. furcated upper ends of rocker levers 5 55, respectively, pivotally mounted upon a common axis indicated at56 carried upon the frame 10. The lower endsof the levers 54 and 55 are suitably connected to a cam mechanism (not shown) adapted to rock 30 and provided. with an irr provided the leversin proper sequence and at suitable intervals the purpose of which will be brought out hereinafter. It will readily be apparent that upon rocking the lovers 5% and 55 about the axis 56 that the members 38 and will be reciprocated in a longitudinal direction during their continued rotation thereof upon the stationary spindle 13.

The head 27 compriscsa circular shaped me 57 3 and having formed integral therewith upon end the s gular sha ed opening 58 (Fig. 6) within-which are s 1-.- a ily' journaled at points equidistant m the axis of the head a pair of spiral pinion gears in licated the numerals 59 and 69. The 59 and 69 mesh with racks and 62 provided upon flat races 65 and formed upon the ends of the semicircular members 33 and 39 which extend into the head 27 as clearly indicated in 4i. and 6. The 59 and 60 also mesh with a pair of tool holders 6'? and 68, respectively, the engaging faces of which are provided with. rack teeth as indicated at 69 and 70. respectively, which are disposed at a 45 gle. ends of the members 38 and 39 which extend into the member 57 orm a rectangle as clearly indicated in 3 the opposite faces 65 and 66' of which have theraclts (il and 62 formed thereon with the oppo 'telv disposed. faces at right angles to the faces 65 and 66 arranged to slide in the member 57. It will thus be apparent that in the operation of the machine that the levers 5- 1 and 55 upon being rocked to and fro will cause the send-circular members 38 and 39m be reciprocated and they in turn through the racks 61 and 62 previded upon their ends will rotate the spiral gears 59 and 60 which will cause the cutter holders 37 and. 63 to move in a substantially straight line and thereby actuate the tools 28and 29 to and from the wire stock 14. The cutter holders 6? and 68 aremounted for reciii ocatory movement in suitablegnic eways indiouted Y1 and 72,: respectively formed in the opening of the member in the various views illustrating in detail the head 27 the parts'are shown in such posit ons that the for ng and cutting off tools 23 and 29. respectively, are at their extreme outer clearly indicated in 5 the movement upwardly of the tool; holder 67 is limited-by the top surface 76 engaging the lower surface of the stop screw 7 3. The stop screws are provided with square openings 77 for the entrance of a tool whereby the screws may be threaded in or out and thereby limit the inward movement of the tool holders. The forming and cutting facesofthetools 28 and 29 are adapted to be adjusted for longitudinal position upon their {respective holder relative to each other and to the front face of the shell and thereafter ,to be clamped in position by the following devices. As each of the tools are mounted in an identical manner the description ofthe mounting thereof will be confined to that of the tool 29. The 'tool 29 is providedsquare opening 84 adapted for the entrance of a handtool (notshow'n); -The:;scr ew'83 is threaded-into the tool holder and against a washer 85 contacting .withthe shank 80. The hand tool at itslower engaging end is )rovided with a suitable-eccentric ortion l arranged to be entered-in-the channel 82.

It will be apparent that. upon entering'the tool in the opening 84 of the screw 83; and f rotating it that the screwnia y'be released and uponmovingthehand tool downwardly until the eccentric portion thereof enters the channel 82 and then causing'it to be'rotated that the tool '29 will be moved upon-the tool; holder-'68 in a direction at right angles to the axis of the screw 83. Upon correctly positioning thetool 29'upon the toolholder it is clamped thereto by a suitable set screw 86 indicated in dotted outline in: Fig. 3 in addition to the clam'pingaction o'tthe screw 83. 'The screw 86 has a threaded engagement with the tool holder below a slot 87' throughqwhich the screw-passes. The slot extends from the wall of theopening 8l -for a suitable distance (Fig.3) whereby upon threading the screwinto position, the slot;

permitting the tool holder to flex sufiiciently, the shank 80 opening 81. Y

Means is also provided for initially positioning the tool holders 67 and 6 8 and there-- by the tools 28 and 29 with respect to'the wire stock '14 which-comprises the'follow-, ing: Each'of the spiral gear-s 59 and 60 is loosely carried upon a reduced portion 88 of a screw 89 (Fig. having a threaded en gz'agenient in the member 57 and operable through an opening formed 1n the outer shell 75 ,byinsertinga suitable-hand tool will be rigidly held in, the

a square opening 90 formed in oneerid of the screw 89. Uponthe opposite ends of the i screw 89 is suitably secured a collar 91. Upon rotating the screw 89 by the hand tool it willbe apparent thatthe associated spiral gear may be moved bodilyin a longitu-,

dinal direction, either upwardly or .downwa'rdlyas viewed 111'- Fig. 5 depending upon v the direction of rotation of theVsc-rew 89.1

It will'also be apparent that due to theengagemen-t of the gear with the rack'of. the

associated semi-circular member 38 or'39 which-member is stationary at; this time that. the gear-will also revolve du'e tothc;

145 angleof the teethgthereof and thereby causeth'e associated tool holder 67 or 68 to be actuated and thereby carry the tool mounted thereon toward or from the wire stockzl l. Upon this adjustment being completed the screw 89 is clamped in positionbya set'screw 92' (Fig.8) inserted through a suitable opening formed in the shell 75 and threaded into the inner'member 57.

The outershell 75-015 the head 27 is provided with elongated openings 95 and 96 (Figs. 3 and 4;) provided at theiroutward ends with, similarly shapedf tapered enlargements 97 and 98-, respectively, so that;

thetools Q28 and 29, 'respectively, may free ly move to and from the wire stock 14 and also to permit their'correct initial positioning; upon the tool ho1dersf67'and 68-, re-

spectively.

The forming and cuttingoff tools and 29 are in the form of notched disks with" their workingffaces suitably shaped to perform the work desired, the particulars of which will not be described. since their req-' uisites are well knownin the art.

The operation ofthe machine isjas followsz, H

The formingaand cutting oil tools 28 and 29 provided with suitable working faces for Y i the. work'to be perforatedfare first selected and positioned longitudinally uponvv their respective. reciprocally mount ed holders and clamped thereto andthereafter the holders;

are initially positioned upon the head 27.

and adjusted for their limit ofinover'nent in carrying the tools towardlthe workall in the manner as." herelnbeforedescribed;

The turret 19*is then setup with vthe required tools for such other workthat is to be performed upon the screw and the stop 181 also carried by the turret is adjusted to properly limitthe feeding movement ofthe wire stock 14. A coil ofwire of suitable size carriedupon the reel l5 isarranged ad'- acent the leftvhand endof the machine *(Fig. and the endof the wireis passed throughthe straightening device 15 and threaded into the sleeve 20-withinthe hollow spindle '13 and between the friction fingers 22 with the end oft-he wire 14.- abutting the stop 18 uponfthet-urret 1 9. The spring collet 23 is then caused to operate through the actuation of the sleeves 21 and 24 to grip the wire stock and hold it while the wvork is being performed. Thereafter upon setting the machine in operation the head 27 carrying the forming and cutting off tools 28 and 29 will be continuously revolved through the driving connection of the sleeve 80 with the driving pulley 81. Due to the locking engagement provided by the fiat faces formed upon the ends of the semi-cir- V cular members 38 and 39 with the member 57 of the head 27 which extends thereinto the members 38 and 39 will also be caused to rotate with the head 27, the members 38 and 39 having a bearing upon the hollow spindle 13. In the operation of the machine through suitable cam mechanism (not shown) the levers 5d and will be rockedabouttheir common axis 56 in prop ersequence and in the manner hereinbetore described cause the members 38 and 39 to be longitudinally and independently reciprocated during their continued rotation with the head 27 upon the spindle 13. The members 38 and 39 through the racks 61 and 62 formed thereon meshing with the spiral gears 59 andj in turn also meshingwith the rack teeth 69 and 70, respectively, provided upon the tool holders 67 and 68 will.

cause the tools 28 and 29, respectively, to travel in astraight line to engage the wire new releases thewire stock and the gripping fingers, which in the meantime have been moved to the left after the feeding operation previously performed, are moved. to the right to feed the nextlength of stock'into position against the stop 18 which has been indexed into position and thereafter in the continued operation of the machine'it performs the same cycle of operations hereinebove described upon successive lengths of wire stock until the coil of wire is exhausted.

What is claimed is: lLIn a machine for severing blanks of predetermined lengths from a continuous metal strand, a stationary spindle, meansfor intermittently advancing the strand airiallythrough said spindle, a tool support ing head carried by and rotatable about the spindle,

stationary a severing tool carried by said head and slidable therein toward and away from I the strand, means for actuating the severing tool comprlsing a rack secured to the tool, a

pinion gear meshing with said rack, and revoluble means surrounding the stationary spindle for rotating said pinion gear to cause a movement of the severing tool. 7

2. In a machine for automatically making screws and the like, a reel for the stock, means for intermittently advancing said stock, a plurality of tools, means for rendering said tools effective for performing certain desired operations on said stock, a forming and a severing tool, means for rotating said forming and severingtools,means'for independently ,moving said forming and severing tools including a pinion gearindividual to each of said tools, and cam perated means for imparting a rotary motion to said pinion gears for causing the movement of said forming and severing tools in a substantially straight line into engagement with said stock. i V

3. In a machine for severing material, a spindle, a rotatable tool supporting head, a plurality of tools carried by the head and slidable therein towards and away fromthe center of rotation, a plurality of semi-circular sleeves cooperating to form a tube and revoluble about the spindle, means for connecting the sleeves with the tools, and means for axially reciprocating the sleeves to actuate the tools;

l. Ina 'materialworking machine, a Shittionary spindle, a tool supporting head ro- 'tatable thereabout, asevering and a forming tool slidably mountedin the head, means for independentlyactuating the tools during rotatlon comprising semrcncular sleeves substantially surrounding the stationary spindle and having rack portions, pinions meshing with the rack portions of the sleeves, racks meshing with the pinions for holding thetools, and means for reciprocating the sleeves independently of each other whereby the tools may be moved toward and away from the material being worked.

5. In a material working machine, stationary hollow spindle,.me'ans for advancing the material through the spindle, a pair of semi-circular sleeves rotatably mounted about the spindleand having rack portions atone end, a tool carrier rotatable with the sleeves, a spiral pinion individual to and meshing with the rack portion of each sleeve, tool holders slidably mounted in the rotat able tool carrier and havin rack portions meshing with the spiral pinions, and means forreciprocating the rotating sleeves whereby the tools may be independently controlled to advancethem to and away from the ma t-erial being worked.

6. In a materlal workingv machine, a spindle, a rotatable toolcarrier supported thereon, a pair of semi-circular sleeves movable with relation to the spindlegand having SlBBXQ'fJOOl holders slidably mounted in the tool earrierand having a rack portion engaging the pinion whereb theholders may be reciprocated axially 0 'the pinions, and

' ineans for independently actuating'the semieireular sleeves to impart rectilinear motion to the tool holders; 1

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 28th day of JnlyA. D., 1925.

ERNEST GAUTHIER. 

